A Co. Louth priest, only two weeks into his new position as parish priest of Ardee, Collon and Ballapousta, died suddenly last week. Fr Mark O’Hagan’s death was announced on Friday, September 18, and was met with an outpouring of love and appreciation from those in current and past communities.
The 55-year-old priest, from Coalisland, Co. Tyrone, served in Dundalk for 22 years up until his appointment to Ardee and Collon which took effect on September 6. Fr O’Hagan’s previous parish of St Patrick’s in Dundalk shared that they were “saddened to share the news of the sudden death of our previous parish priest” in a statement published to Facebook.
Fr O’Hagan’s work as pilgrimage director of the Armagh Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes had a profound effect on the Dundalk community as well. In a statement by the Armagh Diocesan Pilgrimage, they praised the priest’s dedication and determination.
“Fr Mark, you truly were one of a kind, we will miss your friendship, we will miss your enthusiasm, we will miss your energy, we will miss your humour and we will miss your loyalty to our Pilgrimage,” the statement read.